Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton along with a vector control worker explains the use of the drum covers to a Kitson Town Resident.

Apr 01, 2017 | St. Catherine

Representatives from the Ministry of Health, the St. Catherine and Kingston and St. Andrew Health Departments conducted an Operation Mosquito Search and Destroy exercise in the Kitson Town Community on April 1, 2017.

The exercise is part of the Health Ministry’s education campaign, which encourages residents to eliminate breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito in and around their homes. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible for transmitting diseases such as the Zika virus.

The team was also supported by volunteers from the Jamaica Red Cross (JRC) and the National Youth Service (NYS).

The activity is being undertaken ahead of the start of the rainy season which starts in June. St. Catherine is as one of seven parishes that are high-risk for the Zika virus.

Common breeding sites for mosquitoes are drums, plant pots and vases and old tyres that collect and store water.